Do You Dare Try These Eats?
If you prefer sticking to your tried and trues, you've likely never ventured outside the realm of your favorite dishes—and you probably don't even know what odd dishes even exist out there. One thing's for sure: it's definitely weird. You might even feel a bit queasy just reading about it, so beware; we suggest holding off on eating until at least the end of this article. But without further ado, here are the 20 weirdest dishes in the world (that you probably wouldn't dare to eat).
1. Blood Sausage
Known also as blutwurst in German and soondae in Korean, blood sausage is made from animal blood (such as that of a pig, cow, or chicken) and filler until congealed. It can be eaten warm or cold, and is served with various sides depending on where in the world you eat it.
2. Casu Marzu
Originating from the Italian island Sardinia, casu marzu is actually illegal; in fact, it's considered the "world's most dangerous cheese." Why, you ask? Because this isn't just any cheese—instead, this sheep's milk cheese is infested with live maggots.
3. Muktuk
A traditional Inuit food, muktuk is the skin and blubber of a bowhead whale, beluga, or narwhal. It's typically eaten raw, but can be served deep-fried, stewed, pickled, or frozen. Neither fishy nor briny, muktuk melts in your mouth as you chew.
4. Surströmming
Chances are you've seen this on social media, particularly TikTok, where people challenge themselves and others to try surströmming, a Swedish dish of fermented Baltic herring. Encased in a can, it's notoriously smelly and many can't even make it past the first whiff, let alone try a bite.
5. Fried Cockroaches
Not a fan of bugs? Well, the streets of Thailand—particularly the famous Khao San Road—might not be meant for you, especially if you're squeamish. Fried cockroaches and scorpions, among other bugs and insects, can be regularly seen served up here.
shankar s. from Dubai, united arab emirates on Wikimedia
6. Vegemite
If you're Australian and reading this, you're probably wondering why this is even on this list. But the truth of the matter is: vegemite (or marmite, if you're European), which is made from brewer's yeast and added spices, is probably too salty and bitter to suit a normal palate.
7. Balut
Balut is no normal egg. This is an entire fertilized duck embryo that's incubated for two to three weeks, then boiled or steamed. As weird as it sounds to anybody who hasn't tried it before, balut is considered one of Philippines' national dishes.
8. Akutaq
Known also as Alaskan or Eskimo ice cream, akutaq is a dessert traditionally made with tallow—fat from Arctic animals, such as elk, moose, or whale—and mixed with seal oil, fish, and berries. Depending on the recipe, it can lean more salty and gamey, or sweet yet briny.
9. Rocky Mountain Oysters
Don't be fooled by the title—Rocky Mountain Oysters aren't oysters at all. In fact, they're actually deep-fried bull testicles, a popular appetizer that originates from the United States. In Canada, they're known as prairie oysters.
Vincent Diamante from Los Angeles, CA, USA on Wikimedia
10. Shirako
Innocent as its name may sound if you're not familiar with Japanese, shirako is the milt or sperm sac of cod fish. It can be served raw or cooked, and is purported to taste soft, creamy, and slightly sweet. Some also say the texture feels rich and velvety.
11. Beondegi
If you thought cockroaches were the only bug-related dish we were going to mention on this list, we're sorry to report we have more: beondegi. This Korean street food consists of paper cups filled with boiled or steamed silkworm pupae. Just poke a toothpick through and enjoy!
12. Century Egg
Upon seeing a picture of century egg and re-reading its name, you might think: is this even safe to eat? Considered a delicacy in China and a popular congee topping, century eggs are preserved in a curing mixture of clay, ash, salt, and quicklime for weeks or months at a time, turning them black and almost translucent.
13. Tiết Canh
If you're a lover of black pudding or blood sausage, tiết canh might be the perfect dish to try out next. A Vietnamese specialty of raw animal blood (sometimes fresh, as in tiết canh vịt), such as that of a pig, duck, or chicken, it's traditionally served up in bowls and topped with cooked meat.
14. Smalahove
The Norwegians are known to eat some odd stuff, and smalahove is just one of many on the menu. Eaten during Christmas, this dish consists of an entire sheep's head that's smoked, steamed, and salt-cured, then served with potatoes, mashed swedes, and beer or aquavit (starch-based Scandinavian spirit).
15. Ubre Asada
A classic Chilean dish, ubre asada is grilled cow udder. Udders from young calves are the most preferred, which are then sliced and grilled until soft, golden, and slightly crispy. Curious about the taste? Apparently, ubre asada tastes similar to cow's tongue.
16. Snake & Scorpion Soup
If you're ever in the Guangdong province of China, be sure to stop by for snake and whole scorpion soup. Yup, you read that right—an entire scorpion. Don't worry; this broth is actually considered a detox soup and the arachnid's toxins are extracted by an experienced chef before consumption.
17. Hákarl
Have you ever wanted to try rotting shark meat? Well, head over to Iceland where you can order their national dish, hákarl. Typically described as pungent in both smell and taste (with an ammonia-like odor), hákarl is made from Greenland shark that's been fermented then hung to dry. You'll probably want to pair bites of this with some strong aquavit.
18. Fruit Bat Soup
Originating from Palau, fruit bat soup is a national delicacy consisting of fruit bats (bats that are frugivorous and feed on berries, leaves, and bark), coconut milk, spices, and ginger. Why this particular species? Well, because fruit bats have sweeter meat, given their diet.
19. Virgin Boy Eggs
Of all the weird dishes we've already covered, you're probably not ready for this one. Virgin boy eggs (or tong zi dan) are a traditional dish from the Zhejiang province of China, where eggs are soaked and boiled in the urine of young boys. It's believed that tong zi dan offers numerous health benefits, like preventing heat stroke and treating arthritis.
20. Kopi Luwak Coffee
You can't call yourself a coffee connoisseur unless you've tried kopi luwak, an Indonesian delicacy that consists of coffee cherries that have been digested and excreted by the Asian palm civet. Be ready to shell out some serious money, though: a cup of kopi luwak can cost anywhere from $50 to $100.
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